Structural elements



1966 B. F. BIRDWELL STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS Filed June 11, 1963 INVENTOR.BENJAMIN E B/RDWELL BY 2 WW2:

United States Patent 3,282,005 STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS Benjamin F.Bil-dwell, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to Benco, lnc., Memphis, Tenn., acorporation of Tennessee Filed June 11, 1963, Ser. No. 286,988 Claims.(Cl. 52-364) This invention relates to structural elements, and moreparticularly relates to such elements adapted to be used in the roof andfloor systems of buildings, and as studs in the walls of buildings.

Heretofore, architectural building designs have dealt, for the greaterpart, with walls. Floor and roof systems have been neglected since theyprovide function rather than esthetics. Excessive costs of roof andfloor systems have been accepted by architects and builders; however,these parts of a building provide the greatest opportunity for savings.Modern architectural trends are towards flat roofs. Service stations,schools and industrial buildings require clear spans. Conventional roofsystems consist generally of four members: (1) joists (independentlyerected); (2) deck (independently attached); (3) ceiling (independentlyapplied by suspending or by applying lathes, plastering and painting);and (4) mop-on (applying felt waterproof membranes). Previously, therehave been a number of free span roof systems introduced. For example,several types leave open cells which require the addition of specialceilings. Another type requires the addition of a deck in order toprovide a surface upon which the roof can be applied. These systemscarry a transverse section of heavy gauge in order to provide propermetal thickness for the beam section. These prior systems were expensiveto manufacture, expensive to pack, and expensive to erect.

The present invention is primarily directed towards overcoming the abovementioned and other disadvantages in prior roof and floor systems.

Thus, one of the principal objects of the present invention is toprovide a roof and floor system that is less expensive than previoussystems, yet is highly effective.

A further object is to provide such a system that iseasy fornon-experienced personnel to erect.

A further object is to provide such a system that is long-lasting andsubstantially maintenance free.

A further object is to provide a metal roof and floor system thatsimulates a wooden system and is attractive in appearance.

A further object is to provide such a system that includes a uniquemetal box beam having provisions for receiving attaching members asnails and the like, deck members supported by said box beam, andattaching members as nails or the like extending through said deckmembers and into said box beam.

A further object is to provide improved means in such a beam forpositively and tightly holding the attaching members.

A further object is to provide such a box beam which is shaped in anoptimum form to have the maximum strength for a unit weight.

A further object is to provide such a beam that is easy to handle anderect.

A further object is to provide such a beam that is economical tofabricate, economical to transport, and economical to erect.

A further object is to provide such a beam that, in addition to beinguseful in a roof and floor system, can be used as a stud in a buildingwall.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction ofstructural elements.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the box beams of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the beam shown incombination with a deck member and an attaching member nailed throughthe deck member and into the box beam.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the box beam showing a step in theprocess of constructing same.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the lineIV-IV of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are illustratedby numerals, the structural system 11 of the present invention includes,in general, the combination of the box beam 13, a member for attachingto the box beam such as the deck member 15, shown in FIG. 2, and anattaching member such as the helix drive nail 17.

Referring now in more detail to box beam 13, it includes two sections orhalves 19, 21, which are substantially identical in construction exceptthat in assembled relationship the halves are disposed degrees relativeto one another. The halves 19, 21 are respectively C shaped incross-section and inwardly face towards one another where they areinterlockingly joined together, as will be better understood in thedescription to follow.

Half 19 is preferably formed of one piece of suitable material such assteel and is formed into the shape best seen in FIG. 2, wherein it willbe seen the half 19 comprises a side wall 23 and spaced upper and lowerwalls, 25, 27 respectively extending substantially perpendicular fromthe upper and lower edges of side wall 23 and respectively terminatingin upper and lower distal edges 29, 31. In addition, half 19 includes asubstantially U-shaped member 33 integrally attached to upper wall 25along the distal edge 29 thereof. In forming U-shaped member 33, thedistal edge 29 is preferably rounded somewhat, as best seen in FIGS. 2and 4. From the distal edge 29 the portion 35 of the U-shaped memberdepends downwardly and slightly inwardly, and then the U-shaped memberis curved for a portion as at 37 from where it extends upwardly for aportion as at 39. This latter mentioned portion 39 preferably terminatesbelow the level of upper wall 25 and is flared slightly outwardly awayfrom side wall 23. Also, half 19 includes an upstanding flange 41integrally attached to lower wall 27 along the distal edge 31 thereof.It will be noted from FIG. 2 that the flange 41 angles somewhat inwardlytowards side wall 23. As distal edge 29, the distal edge 31 is alsosomewhat rounded, as best seen in this figure.

Half 21 is identical with half 19, and includes side wall 43 and Walls45, 47 extending perpendicularly from the side wall adjacent the lowerand upper edges thereof. As heretofore stated, the only differencebetween the two halves 19, 21 is in the positioning thereof at 180degrees relative to one another so that wall 47 is the upper wall fromwhich the flange 49 depends and wall 45 is the lower wall from which theinverted U-shaped member 51 upstands.

The advantages of the above-mentioned construction relative to shippingcan readily be appreciated when it is considered that the two halves 19,21 can be nested to reduce the amount of space required in shipping.Then, when it is desired to assemble box beam 13, for example, at theconstruction site, the half 21 is turned 180 degrees and brought intointerlocking engagement by insertion of flange 49 into U-shaped member33 and insertion of flange 41 into inverted U-shaped member 51. Theparts are so arranged that when brought into the interlocking engagementabove described, the distal edge 29 of half 19 and the adjacent distaledge 53 of half 21 are in close adjacency, as seen in dotted lines inFIG. 4, and the flange 49 and U-shaped member 33 are in engagement. In alike manner, the distal edge 31 of half 19 and the adjacent distal edge55 of half 21 are in close adjacency, and flange 41 is in engagementwith inverted U-shaped member 51.

The next step in the assembly of box beam 13 is to put U-shaped member33 and flange 49, and the inverted U-shaped member 51 and flange 41,respectively, under tension by spreading apart edges 29 and 53, andedges 31 and 55. It will be understood that the spreading apart of theedges as above described puts the parts under tension since they areformed of resilient material. Also, when the edges are spread apart asabove described, grooves 57, 59 will respectively be established betweenthe edges. Thus, upwardly opening groove 57 will be establishedlongitudinally of the beam in the middle of the upper wall 61 of thebeam. It will be understood .that upper wall 61 of beam 13 isestablished from the upper walls 25, 47 of the respective halves 19, 21.Likewise, downwardly opening groove 59 is established longitudinally inthe middle of the lower wall 63 of box beam 13, which lower wall isestablished from the lower walls 27, 45 of the halves.

The preferable means for spacing edges 29, 53 and edges 31, 55 is byshims 65 interposed between the adjacent edges at spaced intervals.Then, the halves 19, 21 are tack-welded as at welds 67 interposedbetween the edges at spaced intervals. Shims 65 may be either left in orremoved after welds 67 have been provided.

To complete the system 11, members, such as deck members 15 which aresupported on upper wall 61 over groove 57, are attached to beam 13 bydriving attaching members, such as helix nails 17, through deck member15 and into groove 57. It will be understood that, if desired, 'othermembers may be similarly attached to beam 13 along lower wall 63 as bydriving attaching members into groove 59. It will also be understoodthat when the attaching members, as nails 17, are driven into thegrooves 57, 59, the edges 29, 53 and the edges 31, 55 will be slightlyspread apart by the nails against the inward compressing force caused bythe action of U-shaped member 33 and flange 49, and U-shaped member 51and flange 41. This inward compressing force against the attachingmember, as above described, is an important part of the presentinvention since it will be understood the attaching members are therebyclamped in tight engagement so that they will not fall out or be easilyremoved. Also, the importance of this can be appreciated when it isconsidered that if the compressive force were not present and the welds67 were used to hold the halves 19, 21 to gether, then the welds couldeasily be broken and there would be no compressive force to hold theattaching members in place. In contrast to this, with applicantsstructure, it would make no difference if welds 67 did break when theattaching members were driven into the groove, as, for example, in closeproximity to a weld, since the attaching member would then act as thespacer means.

It should be pointed out that helix nails 17 are preferably of the typewhich are symmetrical, that is, root portions of the threads on one sideof the nail correspond with root portions on the opposite side of thenail, with the corresponding root portions being directly across fromeach other. This makes possible the entrance of the edges 29, 53 and theedges 31, 55 into opposite root portions of the nails so that the nailsare tightly held substantially perpendicular to walls 61 and 63. Inother words, it is not necessary to rely strictly on the frictionbetween the nail and the above-mentioned edges as would be the case ifordinary smooth nails were used, but with p the use of the symmetricalhelix nails the friction of the edges against the nails prevents themfrom rotating, and

the edges extending into the roots of the threads hold the nails againstwithdrawal from the grooves in the beam.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the presentinvention provides a unique and highly effective structural system forbuildings in which a unique box beam is provided. It will further beunderstood that this system is one in which a roof and floor system canbe erected much quicker and more economically than heretofore possible.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respectto a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is notto be so limited since changes and modifications may be made thereinwhich are within the full intended scope of this invention ashereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A structural box beam adapted for receiving attaching members, saidbox beam comprising two halves, one of said halves including a wallhaving a distal edge and the other of said halves including a wallhaving a distal edge in spaced paralled relationship to said distal edgeof said one of said halves to provide a groove therebetween, andresilient means respectively attached to said distal edges for urgingsaid edges towards one another thereby being adapted to clamp attachingmembers therebetween.

2. A structural box beam adapted for receiving attaching members, saidbox beam comprising two halves, each of said halves being substantiallyC-shaped in cross-section and including a side wall and spaced upper andlower walls respectively extending substantially perpendicular from theupper and lower edges of said side wall and respectively terminating inupper and lower distal edges, said upper distal edges of said two halvesand said lower distal edges of said two halves being respectively inclosely spaced relationship to provide an upper groove and a lowergroove in said beam adapted to receive attaching members, resilientmeans respectively attached to said upper distal edges and said lowerdistal edges for urging said upper distal edges and said lower distaledges towards one another and for holding said two halves together, and.spacer means respectively received in said upper and lower grooves atspaced intervals for respectively limiting inward movement of said upperdistal edges towards one another and limiting inward movement of saidlower distal edges towards one another.

3. .A structural box beam adapted for receiving attaching members, saidbox beam comprising two halves, each of said halves being substantiallyC-shaped in crosssection and including a side wall and spaced upper andlower walls respectively extending substantially perpendicular from theupper and lower edges of said side wall and respectively terminating inupper and lower distal edges; said upper distal edges of said two halvesand said lower distal edges of said two halves being respectively inclosely spaced relationship to provide an upper groove and a lowergroove in said beam, one of said halves including a substantiallyU-shaped member integrally attached to said upper wall of said one ofsaid halves in depending relationship along said distal edge thereof andan upstanding flange integrally attached to said lower wall of said oneof said halves along said distal edge thereof, the other of said halvesincluding a depending flange integrally attached to said upper wall ofsaid other of said halves along said distal edge thereof, said U-shapedmembers being respectively interlocked with said flanges, said U-shapedmembers and said flanges being resilient and being in engagement andunder tension to urge said upper distal edges and said lower distaledges towards one another, and spacer means respectively received insaid upper and lower grooves at spaced intervals for respectivelylimiting inward movement of said upper distal edges towards one anotherand limiting inward movement of said lower distal edges towards oneanother.

4. In a building construction, the combination of a box-like beamcomprising two halves; one of said halves including a wall having adistal edge and the other of said halves including a wall having adistal edge in spaced parallel reationship to said distal edge of saidone of said halves to provide a groove therebetween, at least one deckmember disposed on said beam over said groove, at least one attachingmember extending through said deck member and into said groove, andresilient means respectively attached to said distal edges for urgingsaid distal edges towards one another and clamp said attaching membertherebetween,

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said attaching member comprises asubstantially straight helix nail.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said helix nail is symmetrical.

7. In a building construction, the combination of a boxlike beamcomprising two halves; each of said halves being substantially C-shapedin cross-section and includ ing a side wall and spaced upper and lowerwalls respectively extending substantially perpendicular from the upperand lower edges of said side wall and respectively terminating in upperand lower distal edges; said upper distal edges of said two halves andsaid lower distal edges of said two halves being respectively in closelyspaced relationship to provide an upper groove and a lower groove insaid beam, resilient means respectively attached to said upper distaledges and said lower distal edges for urging said upper distal edges andsaid lower distal edges towards one another and for holding said twohalves together, spacer means respectively received in said upper andlower grooves at spaced intervals for respectively limiting inwardmovement of said upper distal edges towards one another and limitinginward movement of said lower distal edges towards one another, at leastone deck member disposed on said beam over said upper groove, and atleast one attaching member extending through said deck member and intosaid groove to force said upper distal edges slightly apart against theforce of said resilient means whereby said attaching member is held inplace.

8. In a building construction, the combination of a box-like beamcomprising two halves; each of said halves being substantially C-shapedin cross-section and including a side wall and spaced upper and lowerwalls respectively extending substantially perpendicular from the upperand lower edges of said side Wall and respectively terminating in upperand lower distal edges; said upper distal edges of said two halves andsaid lower distal edges of said two halves being respectively in closelyspaced relationship to provide an upper groove and a lower groove insaid beam, one of said halves including a substantially U-shaped memberintegrally attached to said upper wall of said one of said halves independing relationship along said distal edge thereof and an upstandingflange integrally attached to said lower wall of said one of said halvesalong said distal edge thereof, the other of said halves including adepending flange integrally attached to said upper wall of said other ofsaid halves along said distal edge thereof and an inverted substantiallyU-shaped member integrally attached to said lower wall of said other ofsaid halves along said distal edge thereof, said U-shaped members beingrespectively interlocked with said flanges, said Ushaped members andsaid flanges being resilient and being in engagement and under tensionto urge said upper distal edges and said lower distal edges towards oneanother, spacer means respectively received in said upper and lowergrooves at spaced intervals for respectively limiting inward movement ofsaid upper distal edges towards one another and limiting inward movementof said lower distal edges towards one another, at least one deck memberdisposed on said beam over said upper groove, and at least one attachingmember extending through said deck member and into said groove to forcesaid upper distal edges slightly apart against the force of saidresilient means whereby said attaching member is held in place.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which said attaching member comprises asubstantially straight helix nail.

it The combination of claim 9 in which said helix nail is symmetrical.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,675,896 4/1954Van Pelt 52-731X FOREIGN PATENTS 162,108 4/ 1921 Great Britain.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner.

1. A STRUCTURAL BOX BEAM ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING ATTACHING MEMBERS, SAIDBOX BEAM COMPRISING TWO HALVES, ONE OF SAID HALVES INCLUDING A WALLHAVING A DISTAL EDGE AND THE OTHER OF SAID HALVES INCLUDING A WALLHAVING A DISTAL EDGE IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO SAID DISTAL EDGEOF SAID ONE OF SAID HALVES TO PROVIDE A GROOVE THEREBETWEEN ANDRESILIENT MEANS RESPECTIVELY ATTACHED TO SAID DISTAL